Cancer services

Our cancer services aim to provide the highest quality service in line with national cancer targets. This means if you have been referred to us because it is suspected that you may have cancer, you will been seen urgently, within two weeks of referral of a GP referral.

When you have your appointments at the hospital there may be some tests that the clinician will need to perform. Most tests are performed in the outpatient department, however, some will require a stay in hospital. If you require any tests your doctor and specialist nurse will provide you will all the information you will need.

Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your case will be discussed with a Multidisciplinary team (MDT) of specialist doctors and nurses every week. Your case will be reviewed before, during and after your treatment by the MDT. The MDT discussions guide individual specialists and their teams to decide the best treatment to offer you.

The cancer nursing team are clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who support patients through diagnosis and treatment by:

Advising on symptom control

Providing information about tests and treatment

Liaising with specialist doctors

Assisting with discharge planning and financial support

Providing emotional support to patients and their families.

A Clinical Nurse Specialist will be your designated key worker who, with your consent, will be responsible for:

Ensuring you, your relatives and friends have access to information, expert advice and support about cancer and its management

Helping you to contact members of the MDT as you require

Referring you to another key-worker should you be cared for at another hospital or in the community.

The team provide a number of services including:

Macmillan cancer information and support centres, where patients can receive free information and support

Chemotherapy is administered in Northwick Park Hospital’s chemotherapy unit on a day case basis

Lymphoedema service provides assessment, treatment, information and support to those patients who develop lymphoedema secondary to their cancer treatment.

Specialist palliative care team which provides advice to patients and healthcare professionals at the Trust to achieve the best quality of life for patients with any advanced life-limiting illness and to support their families and carers.

We provide a comprehensive cancer care service as part of the London Cancer Alliance, working in partnership with other local cancer centres to ensure patients reach an optimal state of health and realise their full potential.